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Did you know that the best indicator of a student's decision to attend college is if he or she fills out the necessary financial aid forms? That's according to the National Center of Education Statistics, which found that 90 percent of high school graduates across the nation who file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) enroll in postsecondary education. However, today we know fewer than half of San Antonio students complete the FAFSA or its state equivalent, the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA).

Simply stated, many people — especially first-generation-to-college families — are unaware that to receive any financial aid including scholarships, grants, work-study and loans, one must first complete a FAFSA or TASFA form. They are also unaware that financial assistance is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so the sooner a student applies for financial aid, the more money he or she can receive. In fact, every year, aid-eligible students who think they might not qualify miss out on financial aid by simply not applying for it.

As a result, in 2012, at Mayor Julián Castro's request, the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce agreed to launch a collaborative program called Student Aid Saturdays (SASSA) to ensure that more students complete their college financial aid applications through the use of trained community volunteers. SASSA partnered with schools, businesses and education-focused community organizations across Bexar County and offered free one-on-one help to students and parents completing federal and state forms for college financial aid. In its first year, SASSA served 1,925 individuals and was able to achieve a strong citywide FAFSA completion rate of 47 percent, exceeding the Texas rate of 44 percent.

In January, the chamber, along with the generous financial support of Firstmark Credit Union, launched year two of SASSA. This year, our SASSA collaborative partners include the San Antonio Education Partnership, Generation TX San Antonio, Advise TX and SA2020. SASSA will go on every weekend through April 27 at 20 sites across Bexar County including Café College. At each site, trained financial aid experts provide assistance in both English and Spanish, as well as offer information about scholarship opportunities. These efforts are supported by outstanding corporate and small business volunteers from across Bexar County.

We are now in the final weeks of the program and we have served over 1,200 individuals, which is well ahead of where we were at this time last year. These early numbers are a testament to the need that exists in our community.

These numbers must keep growing to achieve the overall goal of ensuring San Antonio students are college and career ready. Many jobs in San Antonio require post-secondary education and our students need opportunities such as Student Aid Saturdays to help them prepare for college, obtain a degree and begin a successful career. This initiative is not only essential for their futures, but also for the future of our city. Now, we need your help. Share information about Student Aid Saturdays with a student or family member you know who needs support through www.studentaidsa.org. Volunteer by contacting the San Antonio Education Partnership at 210-207-4766. Together we can lead our community into a successful future.